A little intro for myself. As of now I drive a 91' Mr2 Turbo, but I'm leaving for the military in a couple months to join the army reserve. I have a really hard choice of getting an Rx7 or an Rx8. I've always loved the rx7, it was supposed to be my first car, but it got stolen from the person I was going to buy it from a week before I got the money. I can't say I'm a rotor-head yet, but I've been willing to make a commitment for a long time now. When I get back [this is including having my brother sell my mr2 while I'm gone] I'll have around 18-20k in my pocket. So here are my options.

Option 1: Get a 2004 rx8 for roughly around 12-14k get minor upgrades [exhaust, intake, exterior features etc.] And have enough to get a new phone pay for registration etc.

Option 2: Get an rx7 from anywhere between $500-5,000 depending on what condition it's in, what's been done to it both performance wise and accessory etc. wise. Either way having 10k+ for a swap and whatever else I could ever want sounds nice, but that's where the hard part comes in.

So here is where it gets tough. I started looking at rx8's because a friend recently got one. He said he loves the way it handles and how easy it is to drive, also it's an 08' so it's barely got 10,000 miles on it. He said the 50/50 balance and the overall car is just amazing. Another reason I got interested is because there is no rotary shops in Vegas So if I had mechanical issues, nothing could be too major right off the bat [Unless I get screwed off craigslist ]

But after learning how to drive two years ago [Yeah I'm 18 haha] in that beautiful rx7 I fell in love ever since. Rx7's are also rare in vegas, and I love the fact that it's such a unique car. But the problem is I only have experience with piston motors, I used to work at a car shop because a friend of mine owned it, but we only had one rotary car [FD] come in for a new clutch and that was about it so I didn't really get any hands on with any. I love everything about the car, the problem is I'm not sure if I can handle it and treat it how it's meant to be.

Yeah that was long I know it's just a thought that's been going through my head forever haha, I'll take any advice/criticism you guys can throw at me, I'd like to get as many opinions as possible. Thanks

 

RX-7....get a 1983 with a perfect body and good interior, try to keep the mileage around 160 -180,000....That's about $3500....put the rest of the money in a 9 month or 1 year CD and take the year to learn and tweak the suspension. At the end of the year, you'll have about $500 extra dollars to play with and the knowledge to do the 13B turbo swap and get it done with your cash.

You'll never look back and think, gee, that RX-8.

Mario III

 

rx7 all the way breh

 

Cool cool. Yeah I'm not planning to just blow it all away without knowing what I'm doing. I'm finally getting more hands on with my friends FC and asking away.

 

get an Rx-7!
the FD is too expensive! and if its a reasonable price, then the car is all jacked up!
unless you are willing to wait and save up for one... its worth it (my opinion)


for advice: Rx-7!
for criticism: **** the army!!! nah im playing. im a marine! good luck and god bless! with the money you get from them rich fools, you'll be able to afford the mods quick!

 

Hey man let me welcome you to the Rx7 club and to the Army. I've been in the Army for 7 years now and in the Rx7 for a few months. I just bought me an FD with the money from this deployment and let me tell you its been worth every penny. The way the thing handles is sick and the transfer of power to the wheels is incredible. I've test driven rx8's and just couldnt feel the power like i can in my FD. Any Rx7 is an incredible machine. My first Rx7 experience was in a 1983 GXL-SE and i never craved any car like I craved the Rx7. If you get one you will never look. You may move on to other cars but the rex will always call you back,,,, just ask any supra owner thats owned an Rx7.

 

I had to say 7 because im not a fan of the 8

 

i have an rx7 and rx8
i love both cars..

 

Thanks guys for the opinions and I'm glad to be here. Espi, I back you up 100% marine's are hardcore haha. I've pretty much made up the decision for an FC. This is the one I was supposed to buy 3 years ago haha.



And what I currently drive.

 

i like that mr2!

 

I own both, love them both for different reasons. I've also owned an FC. If you're looking for a toy get the RX-7, hands down. It has more power potential and in my opinion handles better then the 8. If you're looking for a fun and comfortable DD then get the 8, it is much more refined and nicer to drive on an everyday basis. The suspension is a bit softer and it sits noticeably higher but the engine is very smooth with no quirks like the 7s.

If I only could own one it would be the FD.

 

yo Vince! that mr2 is sexy!
but Rx-7 is crowned notorious. imma head over to cali after the new years. imma stop a vegas! wuts sup!?!?!?

 

I really enjoy the look of the FCs and the FDs considerably more then the rx-8s.
I also hear a few things about reliability with the rx-8s....

 

Yeah dude If I'm still here we should meet up, I'll show you the few but cool rotor heads out here, vegas drift should have a session sometime in january too.

Thanks it hauls *** haha

 

I would get an RX-7 because I love my FD.

If you don't mind waiting, get a roller and have a motor built. If i would have done that i would of save thousands of dollars. I bought a stock FD for close to 15k about 2 1/2 years ago. If i would of bought a roller for anywhere around 3-7k, put a rebuilt motor for about 2-3k. Put all the Mods i wanted such as the ecu, fmic, gt35r, and others... Save yourself some cash and do that.

Or you can just buy an FC and build it, they are cheaper and have TONS of potential.

either way, good luck man.

 

i agree with the '83, i bought one as my first 7 a little over year ago and i love it, i bought another for a parts car and have to say that for a stock chassis they handle beyond what you think they are capable of with just a set of good tires, i have about 122000 original miles on the suspension with 205/50r13 toyo's and the car is glued to the road, new struts/shocks and springs are going in this fall/winter and cant imagine how its going to be, the cars them selves are fairly in-expensive to upgrade and notice a difference, whether its intake or exhaust, full upgrade on either will be close to a G if not more, but the increase is roughly 15 to 25 % added to stock numbers.

nothing against the RX-8 at all, i respect anything that will blow a tranny before the engine, but the old school 7 is a classic, timeless car that cannot be explained by any words. i love driving my car to work everyday and found a way to take back roads with some turns to avoid to highway. lol good luck either way. welcome to the family when you get one

 

good advise from Jesse, that is a hell of an idea, there are TONS of rollers that look amazing for super cheap because some knuckle head got in to deep and now can't afford his project (almost you jesse? lol j/k)

you could probably get any generation roller and build the motor the way you want it from jump and save 10K to 15K in the process (depending on gen)

the Rx8 is a great car but it is N/A and well I think its kinda ugly, sure you can get lots of mods but they are pricey from what I have seen

My vote is for a 3rd Gen, I would test drive every generation and then pick the one you want from there... (even the FE)

 

Hey! Another MR2 convert!

I also had a MR2 (1991 hardtop w/ '93 JDM 3SGTE swap) before going with the RX-7. To be honest, at first I was a little sad because the MR2 (modified) was noticibly faster than the FD was at first (stock). Over time, that changed... =]

(Don't mean to thread jack, but I couldn't help myself )

 

You can't go wrong with the 7, superior car.

 

I see you had the 93+ tail lights as well, clean I wanted mine black too haha. I'm lovin these ideas haha.

If i were to buy a car in another state, say california, is it the same as just getting a temp. moving permit if I were to drive it back to vegas? I doubt I can even find a FD shell in vegas either.

 

94+ tails lol... I also had the SARD side inlet ducts and the JDM Recaros

To be honest, if I was in your situation, I'd strongly consider an 8 if you can afford it. Start off easy, enjoy the luxuries of having a newer car, and you'll have the advantage of having parts that aren't older than you are (can be a pain, trust me on this one!)

 

Yeah I've already decided pretty much on an FC due to the past My friend is actually picking up an 8 next week too haha, so I'll just drive his :P

 

I own an FD and if I could go back and do it all over again I would get a smog exempt RX3, gut it, clean it all up and put a street ported single turbo 13b with a stand alone ECU and painless body harness. Old school is classy.

 

Sev3n

 

Go for the RX7 guy.